Stubborn Like Your Mommy

Dear Little Man,

I see you're stubborn like me. This could get interesting.

Love,
Mommy

Fresh from an appointment yesterday, I posted this on my Facebook page. I was scared, frustrated and a little bit overwhelmed at the news we'd received. Silly, probably, but that's me.

We found out that our little man is still breech. He's in what they call "prime breech position", meaning his legs are free and dangling in the spot where his head should be at this stage of the game. We were given options... I'm not crazy about either of them, but we had to choose one as natural birth is not really an option when the baby is breech.

Option #1: External Cephalic Version

Basically, this is a procedure where I would be brought into the hospital one evening during this week. They would administer anesthesia for pain that is known to speed up the heart rate - therefore making it necessary to not only watch me, but to keep a very close eye on the baby. Once the anesthetic takes effect, the doctor and nurse proceed.

They try to keep the subject's belly well lubricated... and then proceed to put pressure on the baby to try to get him to tip into the cephalic position so that natural delivery is feasible.

Now, this didn't sound like a great option to me for several reasons... most of all being potential harm to the baby himself. In the process of this procedure, they try three times to accomplish the desired result - each time pushing for about a minute or so. If the baby flips, great. But there isn't anything stating he won't flip back.

There are potential risks to the baby as well.. he could get the cord wrapped around himself, end up with distress from the medication, the placenta could rupture or the amniotic sack could rupture. All of these situations would warrant an emergency C-Section.

If they were able to accomplish a flip with the version, and the baby stayed in position, that would be awesome, the goal would be achieved. However, then we wait for birth to ensue naturally... and the baby would continue to grow in utero. Being that they think I'm a gestational diabetic; this could result in a baby that is too large to deliver naturally... warranting a C-Section delivery.

Option #2: Planned C-Section

I'm sure you all know what a Cesarean Section delivery is. They numb me, put a catheter in, then proceed to cut the abdominal area beneath the uterus and then through the wall of the uterus to deliver the baby surgically.

It is no secret that I hate it when I have independence taken from me. It's also no secret I am not fond of needles, scalpels, etc. So... yea, not really an option I want to face. But the doctor called down and got a tentative schedule for one anyway, just in case my research proved I wouldn't be wanting to do the version.

By early this afternoon, I had decided that I would rather not go through a ECV procedure. There are other factors that I weighed into my decision... the fact that the procedure itself looks like it's painful... and my tendency to get distressed if my heart is beating too fast, even if I know the reason it's doing so. I know this will inhibit my ability to do certain exercises right away - but I will try to get back on track and keep my dietary selections and portions controlled so that I can start down the path to losing weight in the time between this little guy's birth and the conception of our next child (yes, we do plan to have at least one more). The doctor has been called... and the bouncing baby boy will be forever changing our lives on Wednesday July 20, 2011 - 7 days prior to his original due date.

Wish us luck!